Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee
Board and Commission Details
Meeting Information
The Advisory Committee shall coordinate meetings occurring, at a minimum, 6 times each year, in addition to emergency meetings called by the chairperson of the Advisory Committee.
Function
The Advisory Committee shall: (1) Research and provide recommendations for identifying and effectively responding to the needs of persons with access and functional needs before, during, and after a disaster using an intersectional lens for equity. (2) Provide recommendations to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency regarding how to ensure that persons with a disability are included in disaster strategies and emergency management plans, including updates and implementation of disaster strategies and emergency management plans. (3) Review and provide recommendations for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and all relevant State agencies that are involved in drafting and implementing the Illinois Emergency Operation Plan, to integrate access and functional needs into State and local emergency plans.
Term
Of those members appointed by the Governor, the initial appointments of 6 members shall be for terms of 2 years and the initial appointments of 5 members shall be for terms of 4 years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years. A member shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in the Advisory Committee membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Senate Confirmation
No
Compensation
None.
Composition
The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee, the Attorney General or his or her designee, the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee, the Director on Aging or his or her designee, and the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, together with the following members appointed by the Governor on or before January 1, 2022: (1) Two members, either from a municipal or county-level emergency agency or a local emergency management coordinator. (2) Nine members from the community of persons with a disability who represent persons with different types of disabilities, including, but not limited to, individuals with mobility and physical disabilities, hearing and visual disabilities, deafness or who are hard of hearing, blindness or who have low vision, mental health disabilities, and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Members appointed under this paragraph shall reflect a diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background. (3) Four members who represent first responders from different geographical regions around the State.
Chair
After all the members are appointed, and annually thereafter, they shall elect a chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor.
Authority
20 ILCS 3305/23
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Allison | 02/07/2026 | 02/07/2022 | Governor | Representative from a municipal emergency agency or local emergency management coordinator | Member | ||
| Knight, Samuel | 03/30/2024 | 03/30/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Roach, Todd | 02/07/2026 | 02/07/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Meskin, Kira | 02/16/2026 | 02/16/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Cox-Stowe, Dorothy | 02/25/2024 | 02/25/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Botz, Angela | 02/25/2026 | 02/25/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Jennings, Kenneth | 03/16/2024 | 03/16/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Colon, Randy | 03/28/2024 | 03/28/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Pak, Jae Jin | 04/21/2026 | 04/21/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Jones, Robin | 09/16/2024 | 09/16/2022 | Governor | Representative of the Disabled Community | Member | ||
| Gauvin, Scott | Statute | Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or designee | Member | ||||
| Meka, Anu | 01/11/2022 | Statute | Director of Public Health or designee | Member | |||
| Levitan, Judith | 12/27/2021 | Statute | Attorney General or designee | Member | |||
| Kuriniec, David | 12/17/2021 | Statute | Secretary of Human Services | Member | |||
| Eckert, John | Statute | Director on Aging or designee | Member | ||||
| Vacant | Governor | First responder from a different geographical region | Member | ||||
| Vacant | Governor | First responder from a different geographical region | Member | ||||
| Vacant | Governor | First responder from a different geographical region | Member | ||||
| Vacant | Governor | First responder from a different geographical region | Member | ||||
| Cook, Dawn | 09/13/2026 | 09/14/2024 | Governor | Representative from a municipal emergency agency or local emergency management coordinator | Member | Tazewell |